Banana Espresso Pudding, as seen on Food Network's Symon's Dinners Cooking Out, Season 3.
Recipe courtesy of Michael Symon

Banana Espresso Pudding

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 1 hr 40 min (includes chilling time)
  • Active: 45 min
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Coffee Pastry Cream:

Whipped Cream:

Assembly:

Directions

  1. For the coffee pastry cream: Set up your grill for cooking with indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, espresso powder, salt and 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Place on the direct-heat side of the grill and bring to a gentle simmer. Remove from the grill.
  3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, whole egg, cornstarch and remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar until smooth. Slowly stream half of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Pour the mixture back into the pot of milk and whisk to combine. Place the pot over the indirect-heat side of the grill and cook, stirring with a rubber spatula and scraping the bottom and sides of the pot until the pudding has thickened and small bubbles form on the surface, about 5 minutes. (You may have to move the pot on and off the heat while cooking so that the mixture cooks and thickens but the eggs do not scramble.) Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the mascarpone, butter and vanilla paste. Pour the pudding into a mixing bowl and cover with plastic wrap touching the surface. (This will prevent a pudding skin from forming.) Chill for 1 to 2 hours or up to overnight.
  4. For the whipped cream: Whip the heavy whipping cream with the confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract to soft peaks. Set aside.
  5. To assemble: In 6 parfait glasses, layer the pudding, vanilla wafers (you can break these up or crush them) and sliced bananas so that there are 2 layers of each. Top with the whipped cream and crushed chocolate covered espresso beans. Chill until ready to serve.